The BFG (2016 film)
A 2016 fantasy adventure based on Roald Dahl's novel.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Roald Dahl's The BFG is a 2016 fantasy adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, with a screenplay by Melissa Mathison adapted from Dahl's 1982 novel. The cast includes Mark Rylance (voicing and performing motion-capture for the Big Friendly Giant), Ruby Barnhill as Sophie, and Penelope Wilton, Jemaine Clement, Rebecca Hall, Rafe Spall, and Bill Hader. The story centers on a ten-year-old orphan who forms a friendship with a kind giant and assists him in confronting a group of man-eating giants.
Development on a live-action version began in the 1990s under Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, with several writers hired over the years. DreamWorks secured the film rights to Dahl's book in September 2011, and Spielberg was confirmed as director in April 2014. Principal photography started in March 2015.
The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2016, and had its North American debut at the El Capitan Theatre on June 21, 2016. It was released in the United States on July 1, 2016, coinciding with Dahl's centennial. Critics gave it generally positive reviews, but it was a box office disappointment, earning $195 million against a $140 million budget. It was the final screenplay written by Mathison before her death in 2015, and the film is dedicated to her.
**Plot**
One night, Sophie, a clever and courageous ten-year-old orphan in a London orphanage, spots an elderly giant. He captures her and brings her to his home in Giant Country, explaining he took her to prevent her from revealing giants exist. He creates a nightmare to keep her from escaping, fearing larger giants might eat her.
The next morning, Fleshlumpeater, the leader of the man-eating giants, nearly discovers Sophie, but the elderly giant drives him away using a foul-tasting vegetable called a snozzcumber. Sophie convinces the elderly giant to take her to Dream Country.
While the elderly giant moves carefully past sleeping giants, Bloodbottler wakes and grabs him, rousing the others. After Bloodbottler suggests "frolicking," they bully the friendly giant. A thunderstorm forces the group into their cave, but Fleshlumpeater finds Sophie's blanket.
In Dream Country, Sophie and the friendly giant catch both good and bad dreams. The giant reveals his only name—aside from "Runt," used by the other giants—is "the Big Friendly Giant," so Sophie calls him "BFG." She accompanies him to Lon
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
- Screenwriter
- Melissa Mathison
- Based on
- 1982 novel by Roald Dahl
- Release year
- 2016
- Budget
- $140 million
- Box office
- $195 million
- Runtime
- Not specified in article
Lore & Background
Producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall began development on a live-action adaptation of The BFG in the 1990s, and various screenwriters were hired over subsequent years. DreamWorks acquired the screen rights to Dahl's book in September 2011, and Spielberg was announced as director in April 2014. Principal photography commenced in March 2015. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2016, and debuted in North America at the El Capitan Theatre on June 21, 2016. It was released in the United States on July 1, 2016, the same year of Dahl's centennial.
Reader's Guide
The BFG received generally positive reviews from critics but was a box office failure, grossing $195 million against its $140 million budget. It was the last film penned by Melissa Mathison before her death in 2015, and was dedicated to her. The film's significance lies in its adaptation of a beloved children's novel by a major director, and its use of motion-capture technology for the giant characters. Despite its commercial underperformance, it remains notable as Spielberg's first film to premiere at Cannes and as a tribute to Dahl's centenary.
Did You Know?
- The film was the last screenplay written by Melissa Mathison before her death in 2015.
- Mark Rylance provided both the voice and motion-capture performance for the Big Friendly Giant.
- The BFG premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2016.
- The film was released in the United States on July 1, 2016, the same year as Roald Dahl's centennial.
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